In response to the current tough economic climate, TEXEM (These Executive Minds), a United Kingdom service based social enterprise focusing on the executive education market by partnering with major global enterprises and top business universities organised an executive master class for CEOs and senior executives from the private and public sector in Nigeria. The programme tagged Executive Master Class: Beyond Survival, Developing Winning Strategies in Turbulent Times, Public and Private Sector Perspectives held at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s Residence Lagos, on the 11th of August, 2016.

The one day programme was facilitated by three members of TEXEM faculty; Professor Rodria Laline, a visiting Professor of Harvard, Insead, IESE and Chair of the Interbond Capital. Rt. Hon. Mark Simmonds, Deputy Chair, Commonwealth Investment Council, Privy to the Queen of UK and Former Foreign and Commonwealth Minister with responsibility for Africa, the Caribbean ,Conflict Prevention and International Energy. Nic Northcote, Partner at McKinsey & Company and Dr Fiyinfolu Oladiran, Partner at McKinsey based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The British Deputy High Commissioner delivered the opening address and joined in the presentation of the certificates to delegates.

The programme which commenced at about 8:00am with accreditation and registration had in attendance senior executives and stakeholders from foremost Nigerian organisations such as Ernst and Young, The Corporate Affairs Commission, Oando, Shell, UACN, Airtel, Afromedia, PTDF, Chellarams, British Airways, Eko Hotels, Nigeria Police Pension Fund, and Major Oil Marketers’ Association of Nigeria. Themes covered include: Strategic Leadership for Superior performance in Turbulent Times, Strategic Approaches to Navigating Headwinds in Challenging Times, Developing Innovation in the Board Room and Exceling in the Value Adding Process, Making Public-Private Partnership Work in Times of Austerity and Strategy to Beat the Odds.

Prof Rodria Laline, who was visiting Africa for the first time took the first session on ‘Strategic Leadership for Superior Performance in Turbulent Times’ during her session ,she addressed issues on leadership and innovation through the use of case studies, scenarios and questions from the participants. She said ‘The interactions that took place were very impressive, they were very exciting and there were many bright and intelligent questions asked and so I have enjoyed it. I will come back again’. The sessions were insightful as many of the delegates attested to the relevance and the aptness of the programme.

Nic Northcote said the session ‘Strategy to Beat the Odds’ which he delivered is the outcome of a three year global research project that involved seven teams across five continents, which will culminate in the publishing of their new book on Strategy in January 2017.He said his session was analytical and fact based which will help Nigerian leaders make better decisions and strategic choices.

According to Dr Alim Abubakre, CEO of TEXEM, TEXEM came into existence in 2009, formally known as These Young Minds and then rebranded to These Executive Minds (TEXEM).It started with training executives in the UK and then Africa. The focus is to reach out to senior executives in Africa and add value to them at a good cost given the present economic situation .He said he believes that the programme would help senior executives challenge their assumptions, grow their organisations and improve service delivery.

Since its inception, TEXEM has trained hundreds of senior executives both in and outside Nigeria .A great feature of attending an executive education programme organised by TEXEM is that participants are particularly engaged in tailored programmes designed specifically for African senior executives, delivered by faculties at the forefront of analysis in their fields at some of the world’s best seats of learning.

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